My thoughts on tobacco control and propaganda war

[kibbster]

As posted on UKV.

As said the Plenary is coming up which means the Media circus is in town so some "experts" as well as (labour - usual suspects) MEPs will get on their soapbox.
Of course they are actually, finally, starting to definitively lose ground now which will no doubt make them more desperate and the tricks will get dirtier and the blows lower.

Battlelines have been drawn, It's them with letters after their names, tobacco control and sites like the BMJ and us with social media in a propaganda war - and we are better at it!
Every day that goes past we are more and the word is spreading and it's shaking tobacco control to it's boots.
For the first time in decades tobacco control is losing some control of the status quo and they really don't like it.

Tobacco control has a superiority complex over the peons, they say they do it because they "care" for the minions and they know what's best (after-all haven't you seen the letters after their names?)
The truth is I suspect most of them are in tobacco control because it was always an easy option, EVERYONE hates smoking right, even the smokers apparently so it's an easy career choice and not even remotely controversial and very unlikely to be opposed at any point no matter how draconian you get our how big your Napoleon complex is.
It was always a way to lay down dramatic legislation and get your name in lights just by being a bastard and everyone will love you for it, after-all it's for the good of the people.

Now the peons have fought back (when you try to take away something people are passionate about they tend to do that.)
And because of social media the Peons have far more power than they should, the peons even have some big guns with letters after their names as well.
The difference is our big guns are measured and articulate, they chose the "hard road" in tobacco control, the one that looks objectively at the situation and uses science rather than the easy evangelical jackboot option.
The answers they get aren't always the ones their superiors/funders would want, but they know it's the truth so they stick by their guns.

We have some real science, intelligent people who aren't fanatical (that's probably not us users) and a massive loyal following that KNOW in our heart of hearts we are right.
How can I not know I am right when everything my body tells me says it's right and my friends and people on forums, Facebook and Twitter all report exactly the same.

E-cigs are viewed by us as saviours but they are viewed by tobacco control as a threat to their easy life and gravy train.
E-cigs are also viewed as a threat to tobacco control legacies, the thing they been fighting for so hard and dedicated careers to is actually resolving itself without their "help".
There is, for the first time, a credible chance that they might eventually be out if a job and none of them saw it coming.
The tobacco control community always said they'd love to be out of a job, well we can see what happens when they are actually in danger of getting their dreams fulfilled.
This propaganda war is showing tobacco control for what it is, the ones who really do care are supporting harm reduction the others that are fighting E-cigs have shown themselves to be what they really are.

The politicians who thought the TPD would be an easy ride are not happy that they are being opposed and the real MPs and MEPs who engaged with their constituents have actually thought about what they are doing and started doing some real politics and they to are sticking by their guns.

Just under a year ago we were on our own in a sea of obscurity with no one willing to join our side publicly because they would have stood out and put their head above the parapet.
Now thanks to the campaigners and letters to MPs/MEPs we have actually started to swing opinion on E-cigs to the point where a partial backdown from Brussels is a distinct and strong possibility.
I would have never thought in the first couple of months of this year that we would be where we are now because at the start it appeared to be hopeless, but everyone continued because they had to.

It really warms me to see it's actually started to pay off and we are making the impossible happen!

No matter what happens, the campaigners have made me proud and I'm proud to have been part of it even if only to contribute in a small way.

The fact that we've upset the status quo (even in a small way) that was so used to abusing freedoms and liberties is something that can only be achieved with real effort and does show that the little people are still people and can still bite hard enough to hurt when backed into a corner.

[tfulp]

Your right Kibbster. I have COPD and my Doctor was a little reluctant to say much about my switching to E-Cigs, However, When I went into my last check-up, He noticed, My E cig hanging from my neck with a tank full of juice. He took a chest x-ray and listened to my breathing....I could tell by the expression on his face, He was surprised....The x-ray came back with less fluid build-up in my lungs and by breathing had GREATLY improved...He stated " I think your on to something here...I can't condone people using E-Cigs or cigarettes.....BUT don't start smoking again". Kibbster, That's a lot for A doctor to say......People are wising up....People are getting educated....However, big cigarette companies equal big money...They will fight to the bitter end put the control back in their pockets.

[neptune]

Kibster, that was quite some post. You put time and effort into that, not to mention your heart and soul. You have used your gift with words to say what most of us were thinking. I particularly liked the bit about Tobacco Control being out of a job, and their attitude now that it has become a real possibility. There seems to be something about riding a gravy train that lulls the passengers into believing that they have a god-given right to be there, and that the journey will last forever. Sadly for them, history does not bear this out. The times, they are a-changing.

[Deleted]

Woody Guthrie says it all for me!